What is Wellbutrin?

Wellbutrin is an antidepressant used to relieve symptoms of depression such as feelings of sadness, worthlessness or guilt, loss of interest in daily activities, changes in appetite, tiredness, sleeping too much, insomnia, and thoughts of death or suicide. It is also used to help people stop smoking by reducing withdrawal effects.

Things to Discuss Before Using

Before taking Wellbutrin tell your doctor if you:

have liver problems

have kidney problems

have heart problems, high blood pressure, or history of heart attack

have anorexia or bulimia

have epilepsy or a seizure disorder

have a head injury or brain or spinal column tumor

have diabetes

drink alcohol, use street drugs, or take a prescription benzodiazepine such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), temazepam (Restoril), and others

You may not be able to take this medication, or you may require a special dosage or monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Other things to consider when taking this medication:

Your doctor may want you to monitor for the following symptoms: anxiety, panic attacks, difficulty sleeping, irritability, hostility, impulsivity, severe restlessness, and mania (mental and/ or physical hyperactivity). These symptoms may be associated with development of worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts..

May be used to treat different medical conditions. You should not be taking more than one product containing bupropion at a time (e.g., Wellbutrin and Zyban). Talk to your doctor if a second product is prescribed for you. Too much of this medicine can increase the risk of a seizure.

In the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether this medication will be harmful to a nursing baby. Do not take without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Dosage Method

Use Wellbutrin exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

It is also necessary to follow these dosage directions:

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Can be taken with or without food.

Do not crush, chew, or break the sustained- or extended-release tablets (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL and Zyban SR). Swallow them whole. They are specially formulated to release slowly in the body. If you are unsure of the formulation of your medication, ask your healthcare provider.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat

Missed a Dose?

Skip the missed dose and take only your next scheduled dose.

Overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected. Symptoms of an overdose include seizures, hallucinations, loss of consciousness, weakness, a fast heartbeat, and heart attack.

Things to Avoid During Treatment

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

isocarboxazid (Marplan)

phenelzine (Nardil)

tranylcypromine (Parnate)

You may not be able to take this medication, or you may require a special dosage or monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above. Drugs other than those listed here may also interact or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Other things to consider when taking this medication:

Avoid alcohol or drink it only in moderation.

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities.

Dizziness may be more likely to occur when you rise from a sitting or lying position. Rise slowly to prevent dizziness and a possible fall.

Side Effects

If you experience any of the following rare but serious side effects, stop taking this medication and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives)

seizures

fast or irregular heartbeats

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take this medication and talk to your doctor if you experience:

headache

insomnia

dry mouth

tremors, restlessness, agitation, or anxiety

dizziness or drowsiness

sweating

skin rash

ringing in the ears

flulike symptoms such as aching muscles, fatigue, and discomfort

frequent urination

weight loss or gain

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effects that seem unusual.